Touch-regulating attachment for pianos.



' PATENTED DEC. 18, 1906.-

2 SHEETSf'SHEET 1- L. EARRISS. TOUGH REGUL-ATING ATTAGHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN 18,1906

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TOUGH REGULATING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS.

APPLICATION .I'ILEDLJ'ANLIB IQOSI 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' awzvwoz Lahgmon k/arr/ss a Wibnaawa attain LANGDON HARRI SS, OF WACO, TEXAS.

TOUCH-REGULATING ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18,1906.

Application filed January 18, 1906. Serial No. 296,662.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LANGDON HARRISS, a citizen of the United States residing at Waco, in the county of McLennan and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Touch Regulating Attache ments for Pianos, of which the, following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved touch-regulator for pianos, and has in view the provision of a simple, practical, and effective construction readily adapted to any of the ordinary makes of upright pianos and comprising means for regulating the stiffness or resistance of the keys to meet the require ments of the performer.

A special object of the invention is to provide a touch-regulating mechanism embodying a minimum number of parts, while at the same time having every requisite of a practi cal touch-regulator to secure a uniform regulation of the key-action throughout the entire keyboard and at the same time contributing to the elasticity and responsiveness of the piano-action without lost motion or rattling of the keys, and in short providing the most eflective mechanical means whereby the student can cultivate the finger and wrist strength and the various other physical requirements'to obtain the desired technique.

Another object of the invention is to construct a touch-re ulating mechanism in such a manner that ail parts thereof are entirely housed Within the piano-case, and the desired adjustment of the regulator for varying the tension or stiffness of the keys may be readily effected by opening the top lid of the pianocase.

With these and. many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

The essential features of the invention above pointed out may be modified without back of the usual balance-rail. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, of the drawings is a top plan view of the regulator on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing the relation of the pressure-pins to the rear ends of the instrument-keys. Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of one of the adjustable hanger supports for the regulating rail. Fig. 4. is a detail sectionalview of one of the hanger-brackets for adjustably suspending the supporting-rods for the regulating-rail. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the coupling or foot connection for each supportingrod, the line of section being indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of a section of the regulating-rail with a series of spring-pressed pressure-pins arranged thereon. Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6, showing different degrees of compression for one of the pressure-pins.

Like references designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention the same may be associated with any of the usual makes of upright pianos. So for illustrative purposes in the drawings the numeral 1 designates the case or top portion of an upright piano, housing therein the usual piano-action (not shown) and supporting the finger-keys 2, which cooperate with the piano-action in the usual manner. 2]

The touch-regulating attachment or mechanism embodies in its general organization a pressure member 3, preferably in the form of a vertically-movable regulating-rail arranged in a horizontal position over the rear ends of the keys 2, back of the usual balance-rail and extending longitudinally the full length of the keyboard, as plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The regulating-rail referably consists of a wooden bar and is he d to a working position within the piano-case, so as to not interfere in the least with the ordinary manipulation and movements of the piano-action. The said rail constitutes a carrier for a series or gang of individual regulating. elements 4 in the form of vertically-arranged independently-yieldable pressure-pins 4. These pressure-pins are usually and preferably made of wood and designed to engage with and bear on the upper side of the rear end portion of the keys with which they are associated, and it will of course be understood that the said pins correspond in number and position to the keys of the piano, so that there is one pressure-pin associated with each key. Hence when the regulating-rail is lowered each of the keys will have imposed thereon the yielding pressure of one of the pins.

Each vertically-arranged and independently-yieldable pressure-pin 4 is provided at its lower end with a felt or equivalent cushion contact-foot 5 for engagement with the piano-key. The said pin is held. to a proper working position by being slid ably mounted in the guiding-tube 6 of a guide-bracket 7. One of these guide-brackets 7 is provided for each pin 4 and essentially consists of a vertical tube or tube portion 6 for the pin and at one side provided with a dovetailed base 8, which detacbably interlocks with an undercut holding-seat 9, formed longitudinally of the rail 3 in the front side thereof. In addition to the base portion 8 each guide-bracket 7 has projected from its base an auxiliary brace-arm 10, bent into the form of an upturned hook whose outer arm engages within a retaining groove or socket 11, provided in the under side of the rail 3. This construc tion provides a firmly-braced connection between each guidebracket 7 and the regulating-rail 3, and in order to secure each bracket against movement after having been properly adjusted. the retaining-screw or equivalent device 12 may be arranged in the regulatingrail and engage with a member of the guidebracket, as plainly indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings.

As a part of the equipment of each pres sure-pin the latter has associated therewith a compression-spring 13, coiled 011 the pin and interposed between the foot 5 thereof and the lower side of the guide-bracket 7. Consequently when the regulating-rail is lowered the spring 13 is placed under cornpression, and according to the degree to which the regulating-rail is lowered. the compression of the said spring 13 is increased or diminished, thereby imposing upon the piano-key any desired degree of tension or stiffness required by the performer.

The means employed for raising and lowering-that is, for adjustingthe regulatingrail is housed entirely within the pianocase, and the adjustment is effected through the top of the piano by raising the lid, as before noted. These means for supporting and adjusting the regulating-rail, with its plurality of pressure-pins, include a pair of oppositelyarranged vertically-adjustable supportingrods 14, located within the opposite ends of the piano-case adjacent to and approximately parallel with the end walls of the case. These oppositely-arranged supporting-rods 14 are respectively connected with the opposite ends of the regulating-rail and are each equipped with similar adjusting means, so that both ends of the rail are supported and adjusted alike.

Each rod 14 is coupled at its lower end to an end of the regulating-rail 3 through the medium of a coupling-plate 15 and an attaching-foot 16. The attaching-foot for each supporting-rod is preferably in the form of a casting screwed or otherwise rigidly secured to the rail by means of a screw or equivalent fastening device 17. The said foot is provided therein with a socket 18, receiving the lower arm 19 of the said coupling-plate 15, which is in the form of an elbow-plate. The upper arm of the said elbow coupling-plate is also formed with a socket 20 to detachably receive therein the lower end of the rod 14 associated therewith, the lower arm 19 of the coupling-plate is connected with the attaching-foot 16 through the medium of the fastening-screw or equivalent device 21, which extends through a horizontallyarranged slot This construction, by reason of a slight play allowed for the arm 19 within the socket 18, permits of a slight longitudinal adjustment of the regulating-rail 3, which at times facilitates the centering of the pressure-pins over the keys of the instrument.

The upper end of each rod 14 is adjustably suspended by a hanger-bracket, (designated .in its entirety by the number 23,) the two hanger-brackets being respectively attached to the opposite end. walls of the piano-case at the inner sides thereof. Each hangerbracket 23 essentially comprises a fixed base member 24 and an adjustable holder-sleeve 25. The fixed base member 24 essentially consists of a plate screwed or otherwise rigidly fastened to the piano-case and provided at one side with a rigid upstanding socket piece 26, adjustably receiving the laterallyprojecting supporting-stem 27, extending from one side of the holder-sleeve 25. After proper adjustment in the socket-piece 26 the stem 27 is held fast therein by a screw or equivalent fastening 28.

The holder-sleeve 25 for each rod 14 is vertically disposed and constitutes a bearing within which is rotatablymounted the sleevenut 29, provided at its upper end with a turning knob, wheel, or equivalent member 30, working on the upper end of the sleeve 25. The interior threads of the nut 29 engage the exterior threads 31 of the rod 14, so that by turning the sleeve-nut the rod may be raised or lowered to the desired extent and held in this adjusted position. By providing the upper ends of each of the rods 14 with a graduated indicator-section 32 it is possible to secure an accurate and uniform adjustment of both supporting-rods.

When the regulator is not in use, the same can be readily elevated. to an inactive position entirely out of the way.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described touch-regulating attachment will be readily apparent with out further description, and it will also be understood that various changes in the form, p1 oportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

What I claim is f 1. A touch-regulating attachment for pianos comprising a horizontal vertically-movable rail carrying a series of pressure members, supporting-rods connected with the opposite ends of the rail, fixed hangers attached to the piano-case, and raising and lowering means for the rods carried by the hangers.

2. A touch-regulating attachment for pianos comprising a horizontal vertically-movable regulating-rail carrying a plurality of pressure members for the individual keys, supporting-rods coupled at their lower ends to the regulating-rail and provided with threaded portions, fixed hanger-brackets arranged above the rail, and rotating adjusting-nuts carried by said brackets and engaging the threaded portions of the supportingrods.

3. A touch-regulating attachment for pianos comprising a vertically-movable regulating-rail carrying pressure members for the individual keys, supporting-rods coupled to the regulating-rail and having threaded portions, hanger-brackets mounted on the case above the rail and comprising a fixed base member having a socket-piece and a vertically-disposed holder-sleeve having a lateral stem mounted in said socket-piece, and a rotatable sleeve-nut mounted in the holdersleeve and engaging the threaded portion of the supporting-rod extending therethrough.

4. A touch-regulating attachment for pianos comprising a vertically-movable regulating-rail carrying pressure members for the keys, supporting-rods for said rail, an attaching-foot fitted to each end of the rail, an elbow-plate fitted to the lower end of each rod and having an adjustable connection with one of the attaching-feet, and an adjusting device associated with each supporting-rod.

5. A touch-regulating attachment for pianos comprising a vertically movable and adjustable regulating-rail provided in one side with a holding-seat and also with a retaining-socket, a plurality of guide-brackets each having a base fittingin said seat and an offstanding auxiliary brace-arm in the form of a hook engaging in said retaining-socket, a pressure-pin slidably mounted in each guidebracket and a compression-spring arranged on each pin.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LANGDON HARRISS.

Witnesses:

NORMAN H. SMITHP H. C. COLLIER. 

